Guitar Repair: Frets & Fingerboards
|
Price
|
Including Setup
|
|
| Full Fret level & re-crown, Basic 6 String |
$70 |
$45 + SU |
| Fret-end file |
$38.50 |
$30 + SU |
| Fret level, recrown and fret ends |
$100 |
$70 + SU |
| Re-crown only |
$40 |
$30 + SU |
| Humidify and file |
$75 |
$45 + SU |
| Seal, seat and level (must have set up) |
NA |
$70 + SU |
| Re-seat fret 1 st / each additional |
$17.50 each |
$12 / $6 |
| Skunk stripe level and crown |
$75 |
$50 + SU |
| Heat set neck (only guaranteed with refrets) |
NA |
$30-60 + SU |
| Scallop fretboard, no refinishing (includes set up) |
NA |
$300 |
| Scallop Fretboard, with refinishing (maple board) |
NA |
$375 |
| Replace Fender Am Std truss nut (includes setup ) |
NA |
$250-275 |
Partial Re-frets
includes fret levelre-crown and set up on 6-string
|
1 |
$115 |
|
2 |
$125 |
|
3 |
$135 |
|
4 |
$145 |
|
5 |
$155 |
|
6 |
$165 |
|
7 |
$175 |
|
Guitar with Binding |
Add $15 |
Full Re-frets
include fingerboard plane, slot clean and seal, fretting, level and crown. Material cost $10 per re-fret, $25 for stainless steel or “gold” fret wire . Compound radius can be done at no extra charge.
| Unbound rosewood or ebony |
$265 |
| Unbound maple |
$280 |
| Bound rosewood or ebony |
$290 |
| Bound maple |
$305 |
| New nut with re-fret, 6-string ($5 for material) |
$50 + material |
| New nut with re-fret, 12-string ($5 for material) |
$80 + material |
| Refinishing fingerboard with refret |
$80 |
| Hand rubbed finish with refret |
$15 |
| Stainless Steel fret up-charge, labor only (material cost is $25) |
$80 |
Fingerboards
| Build, fret and install unbound rosewood or ebony fingerboard (plus materials) |
$500 and up (must quote) |
| Build, fret and install bound rosewood or ebony fingerboard (plus materials) |
$650 and up (must quote) |
| Rebind fretboard, touch up and refret (plus materials) |
$500 and up (must quote) |
[...] 2009 Guitar Repair Pricing Guide – Bridges 2009 Guitar Repair Pricing Guide – Electronics 2009 Guitar Repair Pricing Guide – Frets & Fingerboards 2009 Guitar Repair Pricing Guide – Necks & Structural 2009 Guitar Repair Pricing Guide – Paint [...]
I have a Hofner model 459.vtz, serial # 41586. I played it for many years. It needs new frets, straighten neck, and some of the electronics need repaired or replaced. What should I do? If it can be restored to playable condition, would it cost very much.
Do you have any idea what it’s worth, as is, or restored?
I would appreciate your help……….Bob
As far as the value, it depends on the year. I would guess full restored value to be around $2000 (but I don’t buy and sell guitars, so don’t hold me to that). Usually, the Hofner guitars need a neck reset and refret. They were not put together all that well and the neck wanders a lot. Typically, look to spend about $700-750 labor plus materials (usually about $20). The electronics could be very simple or more complicated. I can’t tell you until I see the guitar. I don’t have any idea what it is worth unrestored. That would depend on the day of the week and who is interested. Have a great day.
Good after noon- Tobias Music recomended you folks in regard to a complete fret/ refinish job. I have a stock 76 fender jazz in dire need of quality workmanship. Bought it new; had the fret’s recrowned 3 times, Scared to death about it not playing to the splender I’m used to. Have heard several myths about my prior statement, obviously you can understand. I hate like hell to retire it but; convince me please? Regarding the type of orig.frets I’ll need some imput. It does have the binding?
If you could drop me a line to let me know an app.$$$$$ amount, it would be appreciated.
Thankyou……..KOV.
I understand your hesitancy, but these often need refretting after the almost 40 years of play and wear. Sometimes they can require repair of the trus rod as well. If you look at the first fret position and see a small crack running parallel with the neck from the marker to the nut, it may have that problem. The boards a pretty thin right there on those basses. We can refret it and refinish the board with no problem. It will probably play and sound better than it has in years! Complete refret on a bound board, refinishing the board and set up will run you $385 plus materials ($15 for wire and paint). If we need to construct a new nut, it does at another $50. Let me know if you have any other questions. You can drop it off with Tobias, or just bring it straight to us.
Hi Chris & team!
Thanks for taking such good care of my instruments for the last few years.
I have a Carvin LB-75 bass (about 16 yrs old now). I would like to have it converted to fretless if it’s feasible to have the frets removed & filled (it’s a neck-thru model, double octave w/maple fretboard). I wouldn’t mind if I needed to have fret lines added to make it look right, but I know there are probably other issues to consider.
Would you recommend this work, or is it better left alone? Is it cost-prohibitive?
Marcus Helms
708 385-4357
Thanks Marcus,
Sure the Carvin bass can be converted to fretless. We can fill in the lines with whatever color you wish. Most folks go with black or white lines, but we can usually put in whatever you like
RE: Carvin conversion —
Thanks Chris. Can you tell me the beginning price point for such work?
Marcus
RE: Carvin conversion
Thanks Chris. I hope this isn’t a duplicate entry. I didn’t see this in the Repair Cost list – can you tell me the beginning price point for this type of work?
Marcus H
Marcus,
It is the same as a refret, so look to spend $275 if it is an unfinished ebony board.
RE: Carvin
Understood; thanks.
It’s actually maple w/side inlays only.
I would think that it is probably a finished board; if so, do you have to strip & refinish to do the job?
Marcus H
Marcus,
To do it right, yes, we would need to strip and refinish the board.
Hello,
I have a Silvertone model 1446 That my dad bought new back in the early 60s it is in ok shape except the fingerboard is cracked at the top of the first 4 or 5 frets it also needs a couple tuner ferruls. Any idea on the cost for this type of repair? or is it even possible to repair the fret board in that way?
Carl,
I would really need to see it. It depends on how wide the crack is. If it isn’t too terribly wide, we should be able to fill the crack, sand and smooth it. If it is very wide, You may have to look at replacing part or all of the fretboard. As far as the string ferrules, that really depends as well. I am assuming they are the Kluson style tuners and those parts are pretty easily available. Look for a repair like that to run you $45 on the low side and $700 on the high side. I know that is a huge disparity, but it really depends on what is going on with that crack.
Can a compound radius be performed on existing frets? I’ve got a strat that has a lot of sentimental value that I’ve had for about 10 years, it probably needs a refret too but just wondering if that is a service available seperately.
David,
We can re-radius a fretboard with the frets still in it providing there is enough fret to work with. We call it “Skunk Striping” the frets. We usually start at around the 12th fret and just make a conical shape out of the last 9-12 frets. This is pretty effective, especially with 7.25 inch radius fretboard, again, as long as there is enough fret for us to make the shape properly. When we do this kind of work, we always make sure the rest of the frets are leveled, re-crowned and buffed as well as perform a full set up. It’s always best to refret it if you want to achieve maximum playability and tone, but the Skunk Stripe is a cheaper option. Refrets start at $275, but the Skunk Stripe Level and set up should run around $120.
I recently came into possession of a 1929 Gibson L10 Arch Top. The frets are worn down and the hardware really needs to be replaced. I have asked many of my fellow guitar buddies and got a wide range of opinions on whether to restore or leave it as is. Does restoring a guitar affect the value?
There are a few things to consider when restoring a guitar. The first thing to ask yourself is are you going to play the instrument with some frequency. If the answer is yes, then doing some restoration work is an OK idea, if that work is needed. If you wanted to put Jumbo size fret wire and put a Bigsby on it, it would certainly devalue the instrument. If we go with period correct fret wire and parts, then the value is not diminished at all. Some would say the value is increased or that it is at least a more attractive buy if the functionality of the guitar is improved by the repairs. The one thing you want to do in these situations is to make sure most of the modifications you do are reversible. Make sure the hardware is drop in and you keep the old hardware. The problem with this old guitar is that the fretboard is bound and refretting the guitar removes the “nibs” at the end of the fret. You can touch that up or have the neck rebound at the time of refretting to keep originality. It makes the repair work more expensive but keeps closer to factory specs. I hope this answered your question and let me know if you need anything else.